Press Release: Oklahoma City Zoo Welcomes New Baby Girl Zebra to Herd
Oklahoma City, OK – November 22, 2024 – The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Gardens is thrilled to announce the birth of a new baby Plains Zebra, marking a joyous addition to its animal family. The foal, who remains unnamed, arrived unexpectedly on Monday night, two weeks ahead of the anticipated December due date.
Zoo caretakers have been closely monitoring the foal’s mother, Nebula, throughout her pregnancy. Bill Smith, the curator of ungulates at the zoo, expressed his surprise at the early arrival, stating, "We have been planning for this arrival for next month, so imagine our surprise when we came in on Tuesday morning to discover that Nebula had given birth overnight. It was a wonderful surprise!"
Following the birth, Nebula and her foal were brought into the zebra barn for a visual examination. Officials reported that both are in good health; the baby girl zebra is nursing well and bonding closely with her mother. Caretakers have observed her active and inquisitive nature as she explores her surroundings when not napping.
This new addition brings the Oklahoma City Zoo’s zebra herd to five, including the foal’s father, Mars. Smith expressed excitement about the future, noting, "We look forward to watching her grow and, in time, contribute to the diversity and sustainability of the zebra population in human care by having her own foals."
The zoo invites the public to celebrate this new arrival, which further enhances its commitment to wildlife conservation and educational programming. More updates will follow as the foal continues to thrive in her new environment.
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Photo credit www.koco.com
